The smallest living things — including bacteria, viruses, and yeast — may not be visible to the human eye, but they have big effects on health, food, medicine, energy, and the environment. These tiny organisms, called microbes, were the first life forms on Earth and continue to influence the planet in significant ways. Microbiomes — communities of microbes — are increasingly studied by researchers focusing on human health, global warming, infectious disease, environmental remediation, bioenergy, and much more.
The microbiology major prepares students for modern research in microbiology with a heavy emphasis on practical laboratory experiences. Students learn the cellular biology, genetics, ecology, evolution, and physiology of microbes. Through courses, students learn laboratory techniques — gaining the type of hands-on experiences with modern equipment that employers and graduate and professional schools seek. Additionally, students can conduct mentored and independent research projects in faculty laboratories where they will learn to critically evaluate scientific data, carry out laboratory experiments, and communicate scientific information.
Microbiology majors graduate prepared for careers in biotechnology, education, healthcare, information technology, and food safety. Many students pursue graduate and professional studies, including medical school, dental school, and biological sciences PhD programs.
Learn through hands-on, real-world experiences
With so many microbiologists on the faculty, students have numerous opportunities to conduct research in faculty labs. As one of the largest research buildings on campus, students have access to state-of-the-art facilities and are able to conduct cutting-edge experiments using novel techniques that few other undergraduate programs allow. Through a senior-year capstone course, students conduct research under the direction of a professor or as part of class projects that have included culturing microbes from the gut of hibernating ground squirrels, comparing bacteria from the mouths of athletes and non-athletes, and culturing microbes found in deep sea vents. This kind of hands-on experience distinguishes microbiology majors from other graduates and enhances the real-world skills that are valued by post-secondary schools and employers.
Build community and networks
Through the Microbiology Club, students establish study groups, explore careers, and teach others on campus and in the community about microbiology. Through events like cheese, yogurt, and kombucha making, the club offers opportunities for community-building both within the program and with the broader university community. This student organization is the official American Society of Microbiology undergraduate chapter for the UW–Madison and provides annual travel and research awards to outstanding students.
Customize a path of study
Core courses focus on the diversity, genetics, biochemistry, and physiology of microorganisms. A variety of elective courses provide the opportunity to study environmental microbiology, food microbiology, microbial pathogenesis, immunology, virology, microbiomes, microbial biotechnology, and public health, as well as advanced topics in microbial genetics and physiology. Students may also pursue honors in microbiology.
Make a strong start
All courses in the program, including entry-level courses, are taught by faculty who specialize in teaching microbiology.
Gain global perspective
Majors can also choose from a variety of study abroad programs including short-term field experiences, summer research opportunities, and semester-long exchange programs at top universities around the world. A study abroad program in Thailand specifically tailored for microbiology majors is frequently offered and led by microbiology faculty from UW–Madison. Students can explore studying abroad as a microbiology major by utilizing the Microbiology Major Advising Page. Students work with their advisor and the CALS study abroad office to identify appropriate programs.
How to Get in
Students may declare the major via an appointment with the undergraduate advisor at any time.
To declare this major, students must be admitted to UW–Madison and the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences (CALS). For information about becoming a CALS first-year or transfer student, see Entering the College.
Students who attend Student Orientation, Advising, and Registration (SOAR) with the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences have the option to declare this major at SOAR. Students may otherwise declare after they have begun their undergraduate studies. For more information, contact the advisor listed in the Contact Box for the major.
University General Education Requirements
All undergraduate students at the University of Wisconsin–Madison are required to fulfill a minimum set of common university general education requirements to ensure that every graduate acquires the essential core of an undergraduate education. This core establishes a foundation for living a productive life, being a citizen of the world, appreciating aesthetic values, and engaging in lifelong learning in a continually changing world. Various schools and colleges will have requirements in addition to the requirements listed below. Consult your advisor for assistance, as needed. For additional information, see the university Undergraduate General Education Requirements section of the Guide.
| General Education |
* The mortarboard symbol appears before the title of any course that fulfills one of the Communication Part A or Part B, Ethnic Studies, or Quantitative Reasoning Part A or Part B requirements. |
College of Agricultural and Life Sciences Requirements
In addition to the University General Education Requirements, all undergraduate students in CALS must satisfy a set of college and major requirements. Courses may not double count within university requirements (General Education and Breadth) or within college requirements (First-Year Seminar, International Studies, Science, and Capstone), but courses counted toward university requirements may also be used to satisfy a college and/or a major requirement; similarly, courses counted toward college requirements may also be used to satisfy a university and/or a major requirement.
College Requirements for all CALS BS Degree Programs
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Quality of Work: Students must maintain a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.000 to remain in good standing and be eligible for graduation. | ||
| Residency: Students must complete 30 degree credits in residence at UW–Madison after earning 86 credits toward their undergraduate degree. | ||
| First year seminar | 1 | |
| International studies | 3 | |
| Physical science fundamentals | 4-5 | |
| General Chemistry I | ||
or CHEM 108 | Chemistry in Our World | |
or CHEM 109 | Advanced General Chemistry | |
| Biological science | 5 | |
| Additional science (biological, physical, or natural) | 3 | |
| Science breadth (biological, physical, natural, or social) | 3 | |
| CALS Capstone Learning Experience: included in the requirements for each CALS major (see "major requirements") | ||
Major Requirements
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Mathematics | ||
| Complete one of the following: | 5-10 | |
| Calculus with Algebra and Trigonometry I and Calculus with Algebra and Trigonometry II | ||
| Calculus and Analytic Geometry 1 | ||
| Statistics | ||
| Complete one of the following: | 3 | |
| Introduction to Statistical Methods | ||
| Introductory Applied Statistics for the Life Sciences | ||
| General Chemistry | ||
| Complete one of the following: | 5-10 | |
| General Chemistry I and General Chemistry II | ||
| Advanced General Chemistry | ||
| Chemical Principles I and Chemical Principles II | ||
| Organic Chemistry | ||
| Complete ALL of the following: | ||
| CHEM 343 | Organic Chemistry I | 3 |
| CHEM 344 | Introductory Organic Chemistry Laboratory | 2 |
| CHEM 345 | Organic Chemistry II | 3 |
| Biology Foundation | ||
| Complete one of the following: | 10-13 | |
| Introductory Biology and Introductory Biology 1 | ||
| Evolution, Ecology, and Genetics and Evolution, Ecology, and Genetics Laboratory and Cellular Biology and Cellular Biology Laboratory and Principles of Physiology 1 | ||
| Animal Biology and Animal Biology Laboratory and General Botany | ||
| Physics | ||
| Select one of the following: | 8-10 | |
| General Physics and General Physics 2 | ||
| General Physics and General Physics 2 | ||
| General Physics and General Physics | ||
| Biochemistry | ||
| Complete one of the following: | 3-6 | |
| Introduction to Biochemistry | ||
| General Biochemistry I and General Biochemistry II | ||
| Microbiology Courses | ||
| Microbiology Core: | ||
Complete all of the following courses (except where noted, all microbiology core courses are offered every fall and spring semester): | ||
| MICROBIO 303 | Biology of Microorganisms | 3 |
| MICROBIO 304 | Biology of Microorganisms Laboratory | 2 |
| MICROBIO 305 | Critical Analyses in Microbiology | 1 |
| MICROBIO 450 | Diversity, Ecology and Evolution of Microorganisms (Spring only) | 3 |
| MICROBIO 470 | Microbial Genetics & Molecular Machines | 3 |
| MICROBIO 526 | Physiology of Microorganisms | 3 |
| MICROBIO 527 | Advanced Laboratory Techniques in Microbiology (Fall only) | 2 |
| Microbiology Capstone (required): | ||
| MICROBIO 551 | Capstone Research Project in Microbiology (Spring only) | 2 |
| Microbiology Electives | ||
| Complete at least 6 credits; at least 3 credits must come from Set A. Note that not all elective courses are offered every semester. | ||
| Set A: | 3-6 | |
| Food Microbiology Laboratory | ||
| Food Microbiology | ||
| Host-Parasite Interactions | ||
| The Microbiome of Plants, Animals, and Humans | ||
| Introduction to Disease Biology | ||
| General Bioinformatics for Microbiologists | ||
| Environmental Microbiology | ||
| Planetary Microbiology: What Life Here Tells Us About Life Out There | ||
| Soil Microbiology and Biochemistry | ||
| Field Studies of Planetary Microbiology and Life in the Universe | ||
| Topics in Biotechnology (topics vary by semester) | ||
| Advanced Microbial Genetics | ||
| Prokaryotic Molecular Biology | ||
| Microbial and Cellular Metabolomics | ||
| Bioinformatics for Microbiologists | ||
| Microbiology at Atomic Resolution | ||
| Set B: | 0-3 | |
BIOCHEM 570 | ||
| Biology of Viruses | ||
| Protein and Enzyme Structure and Function | ||
| Algae | ||
| Fungi | ||
| Plant-Microbe Interactions: Molecular and Ecological Aspects | ||
| Biophysical Chemistry | ||
| Introduction to Bioinformatics | ||
| Diseases of Wildlife | ||
| Fermented Foods and Beverages | ||
| Pathogenic Bacteriology | ||
| Immunology | ||
| Parasitology | ||
| Emerging Infectious Diseases and Bioterrorism | ||
| General Virology-Multiplication of Viruses | ||
| Immunology | ||
| Plant-Bacterial Interactions | ||
| Biology and Genetics of Fungi | ||
| Total Credits | 64-88 | |
- 1
( BIOLOGY/BOTANY/ZOOLOGY 151 and BIOLOGY/BOTANY/ZOOLOGY 152) or (BIOCORE 381 / BIOCORE 382 / BIOCORE 383 / BIOCORE 384 / BIOCORE 485) are recommended.
- 2
(PHYSICS 103 / PHYSICS 104) or (PHYSICS 207 / PHYSICS 208) are recommended.
Honors in the Major
Students admitted to the university and to the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences are invited to apply to be considered for admission to the CALS Honors Program.
Admission Criteria for New First-Year Students:
- Complete program application including essay questions
Admission Criteria for Transfer and Continuing UW-Madison Students:
- UW-Madison cumulative GPA of at least 3.25
- Complete program application including essay questions
How to Apply
The application is available on the CALS Honors Program website. Applications are accepted at any time.
New first-year students with accepted applications will automatically be enrolled in Honors in Research. It is possible to switch to Honors in the Major in the student’s first semester on campus after receiving approval from the advisor for that major. Transfer and continuing students may apply directly to Honors in Research or Honors in the Major (after approval from the major advisor).
Requirements
All CALS Honors programs have the following requirements:
- Earn at least a cumulative 3.25 GPA at UW-Madison (some programs have higher requirements)
- Complete the program-specific requirements listed below
- Submit completed thesis documentation to CALS Academic Affairs
Microbiology Honors in the Major Requirements
To earn honors in the major in Microbiology, students must satisfy the requirements for the major (above) as well as the following requirements. All courses used for honors in the major requirements must receive "B" or better grades to fulfill requirements.
- Earn a 3.300 overall university GPA.
- Earn a 3.300 GPA for all MICROBIO courses, and all courses accepted in the major.
- Complete a two-semester senior honors thesis (MICROBIO 681 and MICROBIO 682) for 6 credits total and present research in a public forum. Students completing their senior honors theses in laboratories or departments outside of microbiology may be able to count that thesis toward honors in the major.
- Complete at least 20 credits from the following coursework:
- 6 or more of the 20 credits must be courses taken for honors from the list below. Courses completed from this list may count towards both major requirements and honors requirements.
Core and Foundation Honors Coursework
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| MICROBIO 303 | Biology of Microorganisms | 3 |
| MICROBIO 304 | Biology of Microorganisms Laboratory | 2 |
| MICROBIO 305 | Critical Analyses in Microbiology | 1 |
| MICROBIO 450 | Diversity, Ecology and Evolution of Microorganisms | 3 |
| MICROBIO 470 | Microbial Genetics & Molecular Machines | 3 |
| MICROBIO 526 | Physiology of Microorganisms | 3 |
| MICROBIO 527 | Advanced Laboratory Techniques in Microbiology | 2 |
| MICROBIO 551 | Capstone Research Project in Microbiology | 2 |
| BIOCHEM 507 | General Biochemistry I | 3 |
| BIOCHEM 508 | General Biochemistry II | 3-4 |
| PHYSICS 201 | General Physics | 5 |
| PHYSICS 202 | General Physics | 5 |
| PHYSICS 207 | General Physics | 5 |
| PHYSICS 208 | General Physics | 5 |
| STAT 301 | Introduction to Statistical Methods | 3 |
| STAT 371 | Introductory Applied Statistics for the Life Sciences | 3 |
- Other courses taken for honors that fulfill requirements for the major (see major requirements above). Includes the following coursework: set A microbiology electives, set B microbiology electives, BIOCORE 381, BIOCORE 382, BIOCORE 383, BIOCORE 384, BIOCORE 485, BIOLOGY/BOTANY/ZOOLOGY 151, BIOLOGY/BOTANY/ZOOLOGY 152. Independent study and thesis credits do not count to meet this honors requirement.
- Set A microbiology electives completed beyond the major requirements. See major requirements above for the list of set A microbiology electives. This coursework does not need to be taken for honors but cannot count towards both major requirements and honors requirements.
- Honors coursework in MATH, CHEM, or PHYSICS from the lists below:
Math
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| MATH 341 | Linear Algebra | 3 |
| MATH 375 | Topics in Multi-Variable Calculus and Linear Algebra | 5 |
| MATH 376 | Topics in Multi-Variable Calculus and Differential Equations | 5 |
| MATH 521 | Analysis I | 3 |
| MATH 522 | Analysis II | 3 |
| MATH 541 | Modern Algebra | 3 |
| MATH 542 | Modern Algebra | 3 |
Chemistry
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| CHEM 109 | Advanced General Chemistry | 5 |
| CHEM 115 | Chemical Principles I | 5 |
| CHEM 116 | Chemical Principles II | 5 |
| CHEM 343 | Organic Chemistry I | 3 |
| CHEM 345 | Organic Chemistry II | 3 |
| CHEM 344 | Introductory Organic Chemistry Laboratory | 2 |
| CHEM 329 | Fundamentals of Analytical Science | 4 |
| CHEM 547 | Advanced Organic Chemistry | 3 |
| CHEM 561 | Physical Chemistry I | 3 |
| CHEM 563 | Physical Chemistry Laboratory I | 1 |
| CHEM 562 | Physical Chemistry II | 3 |
| CHEM 564 | Physical Chemistry Laboratory II | 1 |
| CHEM 665 | Biophysical Chemistry | 3 |
Physics
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| PHYSICS 201 | General Physics | 5 |
| PHYSICS 202 | General Physics | 5 |
| PHYSICS 207 | General Physics | 5 |
| PHYSICS 208 | General Physics | 5 |
| PHYSICS 241 | Introduction to Modern Physics | 3 |
| PHYSICS 247 | A Modern Introduction to Physics | 5 |
| PHYSICS 248 | A Modern Introduction to Physics | 5 |
| PHYSICS 249 | A Modern Introduction to Physics | 4 |
Biocore
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| BIOCORE 486 | Principles of Physiology Laboratory | 2 |
| BIOCORE 587 | Biological Interactions | 3 |
University Degree Requirements
| Total Degree | To receive a bachelor's degree from UW–Madison, students must earn a minimum of 120 degree credits. The requirements for some programs may exceed 120 degree credits. Students should consult with their college or department advisor for information on specific credit requirements. |
| Residency | Degree candidates are required to earn a minimum of 30 credits in residence at UW–Madison. "In residence" means on the UW–Madison campus with an undergraduate degree classification. “In residence” credit also includes UW–Madison courses offered in distance or online formats and credits earned in UW–Madison Study Abroad/Study Away programs. |
| Quality of Work | Undergraduate students must maintain the minimum grade point average specified by the school, college, or academic program to remain in good academic standing. Students whose academic performance drops below these minimum thresholds will be placed on academic probation. |
Learning Outcomes
- Develop a fundamental understanding of the principles of microbiology and the necessary skills for a professional career in microbiology
- Apply the scientific method to questions. Formulate a hypothesis, gather data, and analyze that data to assess the degree to which their work supports the hypothesis.
- Demonstrate proficiency in the techniques used in microbiology and an ability to critically analyze data and integrate ideas for problem solving
- Access the primary and secondary literature and, in combination with their own findings, effectively communicate their ideas both orally and in written form.
- Learn about and demonstrate personal and professional ethics.
Four-Year Plan
This sample four-year plan is a tool to assist students and their advisors. Students should use their DARS report, the degree planner, Guide requirements, and the course search & enroll tools to make their own four-year plan based on their placement scores, credit for transferred courses and approved examinations, and individual interests. Students must complete at least 120 total credits to be eligible for graduation.
Students planning to pursue graduate studies in a biological science are encouraged to take MATH 222, PHYSICS 201/ PHYSICS 202 or PHYSICS 207/PHYSICS 208, and BIOCHEM 507/BIOCHEM 508 (see footnote 7). Also recommended: CHEM 565 and MICROBIO/BIOCHEM/GENETICS 612 Prokaryotic Molecular Biology.
Sample Microbiology Four-Year Plan
| Freshman | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| General Chemistry1 | 4-5 | Gen Chem or Electives1 | 5 |
| Math2 | 3 | Math2 | 3-5 |
| COMM-A | 3 | Electives3 | 6 |
| First-Year Seminar | 1 | ||
| Elective3 | 3 | ||
| 14-15 | 14-16 | ||
| Sophomore | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| CHEM 343 | 3 | CHEM 344 | 2 |
| Math2 | 3-5 | CHEM 345 | 3 |
| Intro Biology, Semester 14 | 5 | Intro Biology, Semester 24 | 5 |
| Elective3 | 3 | Electives3 | 6 |
| 14-16 | 16 | ||
| Junior | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| General Physics, Semester 15 | 4-5 | General Physics, Semester 25 | 4-5 |
| MICROBIO 303 | 3 | MICROBIO 470 | 3 |
| MICROBIO 304 | 2 | BIOCHEM 5017 | 3 |
| MICROBIO 305 | 1 | Research6 | 1-4 |
| Research6 | 1-4 | Electives (for major or other)3 | 0-4 |
| Electives (to reach 15 crs)3 | 0-4 | ||
| 11-19 | 11-19 | ||
| Senior | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| MICROBIO 526 | 3 | MICROBIO 450 | 3 |
| MICROBIO 527 | 2 | MICROBIO 551 | 2 |
| Research6 | 1-4 | Research6 | 1-4 |
| Electives (for major or other)3 | 6-9 | Electives (for major or other)3 | 7-10 |
| 12-18 | 13-19 | ||
| Total Credits 105-138 | |||
- 1
Choose 1 of 3 sequences:(CHEM 103/CHEM 104) or CHEM 109 or (CHEM 115/CHEM 116). Students who take CHEM 109 and plan to attend medical or other professional schools are advised to take one additional inorganic course (CHEM 311 or CHEM 327).
- 2
Math course determined by placement scores. Microbiology majors must complete math through calculus (choose from MATH 171/MATH 217 or MATH 221), and statistics (choose from STAT 301 or STAT 371).
- 3
Electives can be scheduled according to the student's preference. Consult your advisor and the requirements tab.
- 4
The three choices are 1) ZOOLOGY/BIOLOGY/BOTANY 151 and ZOOLOGY/BIOLOGY/BOTANY 152; 2) ZOOLOGY/BIOLOGY 101, ZOOLOGY/BIOLOGY 102 and BOTANY/BIOLOGY 130; or 3) Biocore. Biocore is a 3 to 4 semester sequence. Students must complete the first three lectures and the first two labs. The Biocore courses are BIOCORE 381, BIOCORE 382, BIOCORE 383, BIOCORE 384, BIOCORE 485, BIOCORE 486, BIOCORE 587.
- 5
Physics may be taken in year 1, 2, 3, or 4 depending on the student's schedule.
- 6
Undergraduate research courses include MICROBIO 299, MICROBIO 699, MICROBIO 681, MICROBIO 682 (honors thesis), MICROBIO 691, MICROBIO 692 (thesis). Both semesters are required for thesis credit. Students are encouraged to take several semesters of research (internship opportunities, MICROBIO 399, are also encouraged).
- 7
If BIOCHEM 507 General Biochemistry I and BIOCHEM 508 General Biochemistry II are taken, both semesters must be completed (with the recommendation of BIOCHEM 507 in fall semester of year 3 and BIOCHEM 508 in spring semester of year 3).
Three-Year Plan
This sample three-year plan is a tool to assist students and their advisor(s). Students should use it - along with their DARS report, the Degree Planner, and Course Search & Enroll tools - to make their own three-year plan based on their placement scores, credit for transferred courses and approved examinations, and individual interests.
Three-year plans may vary considerably from student to student, depending on their individual preparation and circumstances. Students interested in graduating in three years should meet with an academic advisor early and often to discuss feasibility, appropriate course sequencing, post-graduation plans (careers, graduate school, etc.), and considerations they might make in pursuit of a three-year graduation plan.
While there are many advantages to attending four years of college, including making the most of research and study abroad opportunities, exploring alternative majors, completing additional majors and certificates, developing skills and interests through student groups, and personal growth, students may have reasons for wishing to graduate in fewer than four years.
The example plan assumes that students will:
- enter their first year with 20 advanced standing credits, including equivalency credit for MATH 221
- declare their major first year
- take two summer terms
- enroll in at least 15-16 credits in the fall/spring semesters
Sample Microbiology Three-Year Plan
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Courses taken the summer before arriving on campus | ||
| INTER-AG 140 | CALS QuickStart: Foundations | 1 |
| INTER-AG 141 | QuickStart: Connect2Campus | 1 |
| Total Credits: | 2 | |
| First Year | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits | Summer | Credits |
| CHEM 103 | 4 | CHEM 104 | 5 | MICROBIO 303 | 3 |
| Comm A Requirement | 3 | BIOLOGY/BOTANY/ZOOLOGY 151 | 5 | MICROBIO 304 | 2 |
| STAT 371 or 301 | 3 | Elective | 3 | ||
| Humanities breadth | 3 | Humanities breadth | 3 | ||
| Social Science breadth | 3 | ||||
| 16 | 16 | 5 | |||
| Second Year | |||||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits | ||
| CHEM 343 | 3 | CHEM 345 | 3 | ||
| BIOLOGY/BOTANY/ZOOLOGY 152 | 5 | CHEM 344 | 2 | ||
| MICROBIO 470 | 3 | BIOCHEM 501 | 3 | ||
| International Studies CALS requirement | 3 | MICROBIO 305 | 1 | ||
| Elective | 2 | Elective2 | 3 | ||
| Ethnic Studies | 3 | ||||
| 16 | 15 | ||||
| Third Year | |||||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits | ||
| MICROBIO 527 | 2 | MICROBIO 551 | 2 | ||
| MICROBIO 526 | 3 | PHYSICS 104 or 208 | 4-5 | ||
| PHYSICS 103 or 207 | 4-5 | MICROBIO 450 | 3 | ||
| Major Elective | 3 | Major Elective | 3 | ||
| Elective2 | 3 | Elective2 | 3 | ||
| 15-16 | 15-16 | ||||
| Total Credits 98-100 | |||||
Students must earn 120 total credits to graduate, including accepted advanced standing or transfer credits. The above charts reflect 100-102 total credits from six fall/spring semesters and two summer terms, including courses taken in the summer before the first year.
- 1
The Microbiology major recommends INTER-AG 140 CALS QuickStart: Foundations or INTER-AG 141 QuickStart: Connect2Campus for the first-year seminar requirement. However, this requirement can be fulfilled through courses offered in Fall and Spring semester of the first year.
- 2
The Microbiology major encourages students with an interest in research to work with faculty through independent research courses as electives.
Advising and Careers
Advising
Each student is assigned a professional academic advisor who works to understand student goals and helps to craft a path that best suits their needs. Additionally, faculty provide students with ongoing professional and scientific mentorship. More than 60% of students in the major conduct faculty-directed research. With low ratios of students to faculty, students also receive additional faculty mentoring in the classroom.
Current UW–Madison students should use Starfish to schedule an appointment with an advisor in the Biochemistry & Microbiology Undergraduate Advising Hub.
Career Opportunities
Alumni hold professional positions as physicians, research scientists, public health officials, dentists, optometrists, physician assistants, physical therapists, master brewers, quality control officers, health inspectors, professors, and more.
Graduates are recognized for their skills in laboratory research and scientific communication, skills that are valued by potential employers and professional schools.
People
Research Faculty
Daniel Amador-Noguez
Karthik Anantharaman
Jean-Michel Ané
Briana Burton
Kerri Coon
Timothy J. Donohue
Katrina T. Forest (Chair)
David Hershey
Betül Kaçar
Charles W. Kaspar
Erica L-W Majumder
Katherine D. McMahon
Charlie Mo
Sabine Pellett
Federico E. Rey
Garret Suen
Michael G. Thomas
Jade Wang
Jae-Hyuk Yu
Teaching Faculty
Melissa Christopherson
Timothy D. Paustian
Jon T. Roll
Michelle R. Rondon
Betty Slinger
Academic Advisors
Biochemistry & Microbiology Undergraduate Advising Hub
For more information, see the Department of Bacteriology directory.
Wisconsin Experience
A Rich History of Microbiology
UW-Madison is recognized as one of the birthplaces of Microbiology, as recognized by the American Society for Microbiology’s Milestones in Microbiology. UW–Madison is the first school to teach microbiology in the U.S., and it is consistently ranked as one of the top public schools in the field.
Research Experience
The majority of microbiology majors conduct research in a faculty-led research lab where they receive direct mentorship from professors, scientists, and graduate students. Because UW–Madison has the highest concentration of microbiologists on any U.S. campus, students have many research options.
Student Organization
The Microbiology Club is the undergraduate-led student chapter of the American Society of Microbiology. Follow them on Twitter at @MadisonMicrobio.
Global Engagement
Microbiology majors can participate in several international academic experiences including short-term field experiences, summer research opportunities, and semester-long exchange programs at top universities around the world. The UW Microbiology and Public Health in Northern Thailand program occurs during the summer.
Community Engagement and Volunteering
Our students engage in numerous volunteer activities spearheaded by the Microbiology Club. This involves explaining microbiology and its impact during public educational events at UW–Madison. Many students also volunteer at local public schools to teach microbiology to elementary-aged students.
Resources and Scholarships
Students in the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences receive more than $1.25 million in scholarships annually. Learn more about college scholarships at https://cals.wisc.edu/academics/undergraduate-students/financing-your-education/cals-scholarships/.
The Department of Bacteriology offers several scholarships to students in the microbiology major. Awards are given annually and fund undergraduate research, provide travel stipends to microbiology students attending professional scientific conferences, or recognize outstanding graduating seniors. Learn more at https://bs.microbiology.wisc.edu/awards-and-scholarships/.